To start, there is a rich bad guy, and a good-hearted poor person. Next, you have some sort of tragedy… I’ve seen everything from car accidents to sudden blindness, to forgetting your memory, to drowning or becoming paralyzed after a terrible fall.

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Don’t worry though, 90% of the time these afflictions are miraculously overturned.

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Of course throughout the show, there are a lot of wild emotions. Jealousy is a big theme, and also rage as the rich villain undoubtedly will become frantic when she realizes she is losing control over the situation.

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There are also fights, and the fights are epic, let me tell you.

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Freaking epic…

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As any telenovela fan will know, there are a multitude of facial expressions that accompany the high-stakes drama of each episode. In no particular order, here are the most popular facial expressions found in almost all Latin American telenovelas.

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Rubi
1. Finding out your son has died after a car wreck.

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Madrasta
2. Fighting someone to the death.

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Dos Hogares
3. I want you, you sexy muchacha.

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Llena del Amor
4. Wow! He’s so guapo.

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El Nombre Del Amor
5. The look of an evil plan being foiled.

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Triunfo del Amor
6. Tell me who is the father of my child?

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Triunfo del Amor
7. It’s JUAN PABLO!

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Mi Pecado
8. I’m plotting from my sick bed.

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Marimar
9. I have just heard disturbing news.

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Mi Pecado
10. Thanks to English subtitles, this one is pretty self-explanatory.

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Fuerza del Destino
11. Finding out someone is back from the dead.

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Cuidado Con El Angel
12. “COME BACK, I love you.”

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Abismo de Pasion
13. Why the hell can’t you understand that I freaking want you DEAD?!

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Rafaela
14. We just confessed our love to each other but there is a HUGE reason we can’t be together.

Belisa is obsessed with Super Nintendo, all animals (except cucarachas), Korean food, karaoke, and the Portuguese soccer team. She is most known for introducing “Shape of My Heart” by The Backstreet Boys on TRL in 2001.